Facebook free Wi-Fi calling coming to BlackBerry?

By Bla1ze on 18 Jan 2013 08:42 am

Just in case you're not up on all things iOS and Facebook, Facebook recently updated their Facebook Messenger for iPhone app. The update -- in the U.S. and Canada -- now allows you to place Skype-like audio calls over Wi-Fi to any of your friends who also happen to be in the U.S. or Canada. According to a report coming from the BBC, the functionality will also be expanded to include the BlackBerry and Android platforms as well.

Facebook said it was working on adding the feature to its Messenger app for Android and BlackBerry users. The official said Facebook was expected to roll out the feature in its Messenger app for other operating systems and expand it overseas.

Looing at the situation, it would make sense for Facebook to roll the feature out to all available platforms but when it comes to BlackBerry, there was no clarification if they meant all BlackBerry devices or only newer ones running BlackBerry 10. Guess we'll have to wait and see. If anything though, BBM Voice has proven that it can be done.

Source: BBC

Topics: Facebook Facebook Messenger News & Rumors

Bla1ze 2968 (articles) 6544 (forum posts)

20 comments

nt300 Jan 18, 2013 at 9:00 am

This is great, really cannot wait for BlackBerry 10.
It's features like this that has the ability to attract current Android and iOS users to come on board with BB10, not to mention BlackBerry is the most secure mobile platform. Keep the apps rolling.

ferre_kun Jan 18, 2013 at 9:02 am

Niice (if it's true), at least for me ^^
I have more friends on fb than on ввм™ anyway ^^

TomSwift Jan 18, 2013 at 9:24 am

This might be a way of getting Skype on to BB10, if Facebook gains traction Microsoft will be forced to act!

Hammered Pizza Jan 18, 2013 at 9:31 am

That'll require BB to sell in a big way first. For most on BlackBerry, I expect BBM will still be the first port of call.

k8bushlover Jan 18, 2013 at 12:39 pm

Don't forget they've already had a couple years of selling PlayBooks that might yet receive BB10.

So there are potentially several hundreds of thousands of BB10-capable devices already in the hands of users? It would be a very smart move indeed to bring as much of BB10 as possible to existing PlayBooks.

I'm not holding my breath for it, though. I have also gathered there may be newer, faster PlayBooks (it only makes sense, eventually, to upgrade the h/w if sales continue), but maybe that will be the dividing line for the OS as well.

Rootbrian Jan 18, 2013 at 11:46 pm

Bb10 will be coming to every single blackberry playbook. It was said before.

scalemaster34 Jan 18, 2013 at 9:33 am

Think this will be very useful for people today. Services that are device depended are WAY to limited. Even most households have two or three different mobile platforms, so a service that would work on all platforms and will be installed on a lot of devices is a service that will succeed.

I know if might not be as fast as BBM, it might not be as secure as BBM, it probably won't be as integrated an experience as BBM. But it will be able to allow you to communicate to the other 95% of the world out there!

Playbook007 Jan 18, 2013 at 9:54 am

I always said it will be a matter of time till Netflix and Skype will not be relevant anymore. Eventhough BB dropped a huge market share, these 2 and others played their hands in BB's demise. Now BB is hitting back hard with a very exciting and powerful platform. If they don't support BB10 this time around, I feel they are putting a nail in their own coffin so to speak.

jic999 Jan 18, 2013 at 9:55 am

Wouldn"t the BB10 Facebook call have an advantage over the rest with the BB10 Hub Facebook intergration.
eg. check you BB10Hub Facebook messages, click the message , the contact is available then just call ?

THBW Jan 18, 2013 at 10:03 am

With BB10 , I think we are in for a real surprise with BBM. Maybe RIM has figured out a way of going cross platform without the two users needing the same downloaded app. For example, BBM working with an Android phone with Skype. If this is the case then it would be a huge plus and undoubtably a significant advance in the smart phone field. I will be keeping an eye out for this. Baked in and native is the way of the future.

Rootbrian Jan 18, 2013 at 11:48 pm

It's NOT going to go cross-platform. BBM is exclusive for blackberry, not other platforms.

mavricxx Jan 18, 2013 at 10:21 am

So far I think BBM voice is better because there are no country restrictions. I can hear my girlfriend in the philippines just as if she was here in. The US. Rock on RIM!

JMDBERRY Jan 18, 2013 at 10:49 am

Yes! BB10 going toe-to-toe with iOS! "When you move,...I move,...just like that!"...

Go RIM!

JMD

Yeah,...Post #10 baby!!

simu31 Jan 18, 2013 at 1:02 pm

Was it my imagination, or did I read somewhere that Facebook's video calls are powered in some way by Skype?

Si.

Rootbrian Jan 18, 2013 at 11:50 pm

Only on Microsoft Windows XP or later.
Not on other non-windows platforms, eg. Linux, MAC OS X. (I could be wrong about OS X)

airmo Jan 18, 2013 at 2:20 pm

bb10 is jjust getting better and better. cannot wait what is in store for us in the release date. i wonder how much more stuff they have hidden from us consumers :O

sleekskyline120 Jan 18, 2013 at 10:36 pm

Another way for Facebook to track us O_o

Rootbrian Jan 18, 2013 at 11:52 pm

I would rather stick to bbm video, but if the native facebook application has video, I'll be using it occasionally. I don't even care about the other video to video applications either, because I know microsoft and others HAVE YET TO MAKE A GOD DAMN APP for us to use their services. ;)

momochii03 Jan 19, 2013 at 1:59 pm

this only means that RIM has succeeded in creating a buzz that the developers are actually taking them into consideration. congrats guys! i hope this keeps up! i love blackberry:D

Iamanonymous62 Jan 19, 2013 at 8:18 pm

Bla1ze, why do you say the Facebook Messenger calling is wifi only? i dont believe thats the case.

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